CUPRA is about to reveal its most important electric car yet, and we can't wait

CUPRA has built its reputation on doing things differently. Since launching in 2018, the Spanish brand has carved out a genuinely distinct identity in the crowded car market, bold design, performance-first thinking, and an attitude that sits somewhere between mainstream and exotic. In seven years, seven models, and over a million vehicles sold globally, it has rarely put a foot wrong.

Its electric story so far has been a strong one. The Born brought CUPRA's emotional, driver-focused character to a pure EV for the first time, while the Tavascan — an all-electric SUV coupé — showed the brand could go bigger and bolder without losing what makes it special. Both have been well received by drivers who want something with a bit more edge than the average electric lease car.

Now, on 9 April, CUPRA reveals what it's calling a turning point: the Raval. A fully electric urban car designed for a new generation of drivers, it promises striking design, sporty handling, and the kind of unconventional thinking the brand has made its trademark. A camouflaged pre-series version has already been spotted on the road, and early reports suggest it drives exactly as a CUPRA should.

What's striking about these two is how close they are where it matters most. Despite a price gap of over £13,000, the Born V1 and Tavascan V1 deliver near-identical real-world range, within three miles of each other on the WLTP cycle. So the choice between them is less about how far you can go and more about how you want to get there.

The Born is the sharper, lighter, more affordable option. Ideal if your priority is an engaging drive and a lower monthly lease. The Tavascan gives you the higher driving position, the bigger boot, the larger screen, and the SUV coupé styling that turns more heads on the road. Both are excellent reasons to go electric with CUPRA, and with the Raval joining the lineup, the brand's electric range is about to get even more interesting.